Forward rowing mechanism



Jan4,1944. J VANDER; MEER 2,338,555

FORWARD RowING ME'cHANIsM Filed May 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 4,1944. l J. VANDER MEER 2,338,555

FORWARD RowING MEcHANIsM Filed May 27, 194:5 2 sheets-sheet 2 @Nunn mwuw Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to rowing mechanism for the propulsion of boatsand particularly such as enables the operator to face forward in thedirection of movement, while applying his power to the oars in the formof a pull.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form offorward rowing device having one or more of the following features.namely, (l) which is silent in operation and devoid of types of bearingsthat will become noisy with Wear, (2) which is devo-id of backlashbetween its cooperating parts, (3) which is sufliciently sturdy towithstand rough usage, (4) which is so arranged that the oars and theiroperating mechanism can be turned to a position of compactness forstorage and for safe withdrawal from overhanging the sides of the boat,which is arranged for ready co-nnection and disconnection of the movingparts to and from the fixed structure of the boat, and/or` (6) which,when attached to the boat, is readily removable but effectively securedagainst accidental dislodgement therefrom.

A specic embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan showing the manner in which the oars andtheir operating mechanism may be applied to a boat.

IFig. 2 is a similar view showing the mechanism in the position in whichthe oars are safely stowed on the deck and the handle bars lie compactlyfolded alongside the oars.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the operating spindles withcertain operating parts shown in section on thel line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an elevation, partly in section, and aplan of the metal parts of the operating mechanism, the meandering line4 4 of Fig. 5 indicating generally where the sections of Fig. 4 aretaken.

In the form shown in the drawings, there is mounted on the deck of theboat at opposite sides of the operators seat a pair of deck plates I. Inthe case of a light boat structure, as for example a duck-hunting skifflike the one illustrated at 2 in Figs. l and 2, the deck plates I may bemounted upon reinforcing boards 3 that are fitted upon the deck andextend fore-and-aft a suiiicient distance to carry the strains of therowing mecha-l housing 4 is generally of cylindrical form and has seatedin its closed end a stiff compression spring 1 which urges against theball 5 a bearing member Shaving a spherically cupped seat for engagingthe ball-head 5.

The other end of the housing is closed by a bearing member 9 having aspherical seat fitting the ball 5 and adjustably xed in the housing 4 sothat the ball 5 is firmly embraced by the bearing members 8 and 9.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, the member 9 is shown in the form of a plughaving threaded engagement with the walls of the housing 4. The sidewalls and top of the housing 4 are slotted at I0 to permit of thedesired swinging movement of the spindle 6 and the slot is shaped topermit the ball-head 5 to be pulled upwardly out of its socket after thebearing member 9 is backed out of the housing 4 sufficiently far topermit such Withdrawal of the ball-head 5.

The two spindles 6, on the same side of the boat, are connected by ahorizontal torque bar I I having long vertical bearings I2 which holdthe spindles 6 parallel with each other. These bearings I2 arepreferably equipped with antifriction rollers I3 and rest on collars I4on the spindles. Each of the spindles 6 has a horizontally disposedlever or iitting I5 fast on its upper end. In the form shown the fittingI 5 is threaded on the end portion I6 of the spindle 6 which has ashoulder II against which the fitting I5 bears to lock its threads. Thespindle may be further locked by peening its top end I8 or by lightbrazing as shown in Fig. 4 or by a set screw as shown in Fig. 3.

The lever tting I5 is concave upwardly so as to provide a groove or`channel I9 that partly embraces the shaft of the oar 20 in one case, orthe shaft of the handle bar 2l in the other case, and is additionallyfastened to its respective shaft by bolts for which apertures 22 and 23are provided.

Each lever I5 is provided with a short arm 24 that curves to one sideand carries an upstanding stud 25 which has a ball-shaped head 26. Thestuds 25 of the two arms 24 are connected together by a cross link 21.This is made of a rod which has adjustably mounted on its threaded endsa pair of ball-socket bearing members or housings 28 somewhat similar inconstruction to the deck socket housings 4.

In the form shown, the socket housings 28 are threaded on the threadedends 29 of the rod of link 21 and are locked in their adjustment by1ok tnuts 30. y

v The ball 26 is here embraced by a fixed bearing,

member Si threaded into the housing 2B and a movable bearing member 32that is normally urged into contact with the ball by a stiff spring S3.The members 3| and 32 have cooperating cupped seats that embrace theball 25.

Grease nipples 34 are appropriately located on all bearings tofacilitate the greasing of the bearings.

rPhe operation of the device shown will be readily understood fromFigures 1 and 2. In Fig.' 1 the parts are shown in their rowing positionand in Fig. 2 they are shown in the relative positions which they occupywhen the oar is turned to rest on the deck of the boat adjacent itsstern. In the position of 2, the oar is turned past its dead centerrelation to the link 21 and locks the handle against the oar.

In the normal operation of the boat, the operator may be seated on theseat 35 and when he pulls the handles Sii on the handle bars 2| towardhim in the direction of the arrow 31, then the levers and their link 21will cause the oars to swing in the direction of the arrows 38, whichwill propel the boat in the direction in which the operator is facing,namely, toward the top oi' Fig. l.

The spindles are held rmly in parallelism by the torque bar li andconsequently when the handles titl are tilted upwardly, the oar willtilt downwardly into the water and when the handle il@ is depressed, theoar 29 will be lifted from the water due to the rocking of the mechanismon the spindle balls tl.

rlhe rearward limit of movement of the oar and handle bar, as will beunderstood from Fig. 2, is reached when they lie side by side, as whenthe oar is stowed within the gunwale boundaries oi the boat or therowing mechanism is removed from the boat for storage.

it will be noted from Fig. 4 that the bearing housings l are faced inopposite directions, that is, the plug Q of one ci' them is at theforward end and the plug 9 of the other is at the rearward end. Thus,when these two plugs or bearing members are in contact with theirrespective spindle halls it is impossible, due to the rigid connectionprovided by the torque bar Il for these spindie balls to pull out oftheir sockets. Fowever, both of the plugs 9 may be backed off by a screwdriver implement (not shown) sufilciently far from the spindle balls 5so that the balls may be readily pulled out of their sockets to removethe mechanism from the boat. In this position of the plugs 9, thespring-pressed bearing members ll yield sufciently to allow the balls tesnap in and out of the sockets, but when the plugs il are returned totheir normal position, their relation to the rigid structure of thetorque bar and spindles locks the spindles against Withdrawal` Althoughbut one specific embodiment of the invention is herein shown anddescribed, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spiritof the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l.. A forward rowing device comprising a deck plate, longitudinallyspaced ball sockets mounted cn said deck plate, upstanding spindleshaving ball heads seated in said sockets for rotation and angularmovement of said spindles, a torque bar extending horizontally betweensaid spindles and having vertical bearings at its ends for saidspindles, a iitting for securing a horizontally' extending oar to one ofsaid spindles, a tting for securing a horizontally extending handle barto the other said spindle, and a cross link connecting said oar andhandle bar for transmitting respectively opposite angular movement fromone t0 the other.

2. A forward rowing device comprising a deck plate, longitudinallyspaced ball sockets mounted on said deck plate, upstanding spindleshaving ball heads seated in said sockets for rotation and angularmovement of said spindles, a torque bar extending horizontally betweensaid spindles and having vertical bearings at its ends for saidspindles, a transversely disposed lever fast on each said spindle, meansfor securing an oar to one of said levers, mean for securing a handlebar to the other of said levers, said levers having short arms normallyon o-pposite sides of their respective spindles, and a cross linkconnecting said short arms.

3. A forward rowing device comprising a deck plate, longitudinallyspaced ball sockets mounted cn said deck plate, upstanding spindleshaving ball heads seated in said sockets for rotation and angularmovement of said spindles, a torque bar extending horizontally betweensaid spindles and having vertical bearings at its ends for saidspindles, a fitting for securing a horizontally extending oar to one ofsaid spindles, a tting for securing a horizontally extending handle barto `the other said spindle, and a cross link connecting said oar andhandle bar for transmitting respectively opposite angular movement fromone to the other, said ball sockets each comprising a pair of opposedcon-cave bearing members, one spring urged toward the other and theother xedly adjustable toward said one.

4. A forward rowing device comprising a deck plate, longitudinallyspaced ball sockets mounted on said deck plate, upstanding spindleshaving ball heads seated in said sockets for rotation and angularmovement of said spindles, a torque bar extending horizontally betweensaid spindles and having vertical bearings at its` ends for saidspindles, a fitting for securing a horizontally extendingT oar to one ofsaid spindles, a tting for securing a horizontally extending handle barto the other said spindle, and a cross link connecting said oar andhandle bar for transmitting respectively opposite angular movement fromone tothe other, said ball sockets each comprising a pair of opposedconcave bearing members, one spring urged toward the other and the otherxedly adjustable toward said one, said bearing members beingrespectively alined in the general direction of said torque bar in theplane of said spindles, and said adjustable bearing members being atopposite sides of their respective spindle balls to lock the sameagainst accidental dislodgment from said ball sockets.

5. A forward rowing device comprising a deck plate, longitudinallyspaced ball sockets mounted on said deck plate, upstanding spindleshaving ball heads seated in said sockets for rotation and angularmovement of said spindles, a torque bar extending horizontally betweensaid spindles and having vertical bearings at its ends for saidspindles, a fitting for securing a horizontally extending oar to one ofsaid spindles, a fitting for Securing a horizontally extending handlebar to the other said spindle, said fittings having arms carryingvertical wrist pins with ball heads, and a cross link connecting saidball heads for transmitting opposite angular movements from said handlebar to said oar.

S. vA forward rowing device comprising a deck plate, longitudinallyspaced ball sockets mounted on said deck plate, upstanding spindleshaving ball heads seated in said sockets for rotation and angularmovement of said spindles, a torque bar extending horizontally betweensaid spindles and having vertical bearings at its ends for saidspindles, a fitting for securing a horizontally extendin g oar to one ofsaid spindles, a fitting for securing a horizontally extending handlebar to the other said spindle, said fittings having arms l0 carryingvertical wrist pins with ball heads, a cross link connecting said ballheads for transmitting opposite angular movements from said handle barto said oar, said cross link having bearings for said wrist pin ballheads, each comprising a cylindrical housing having therein a pair ofopposed concave bearing members embracing the respective ball head, saidbearing members being alined lengthwise of said link, one bearing memberof each pair being adjustably Xed in its housing and the other beingspring urged toward said one, and the housings on said link beingoppositely disposed so that their respective fixed bearing members willbe on opposite sides of their respective Wrist pin balls.

JOHN VANDER MEER.

